Hello, fellow readers!
After my last story, I wanted to resume writing. However, I completely forgot the plot since it's been too long. Although there are notes left around, it's hard to resume since all the ideas are gone, and I need to catch up with what I have written. So, for those who remember that, note it has been discontinued but is still available here.
So I started with a new one, and of course, a modern Gensokyo with a different premise.
As a start, here are some notes about this:
1. 7 girls are pairing to Reimu in here. So all of them, including those in the story tag, are as follows:
Remilia Scarlet, Koishi Komeiji, Alice Margatroid, Patchouli Knowledge, Sanae Kochiya, Aya Shameimaru, Flandre Scarlet
I hope that gives a diversified range of tastes for readers.
2. I try to keep the characters' OG personalities as much as I can initially, but some character development will change them in some parts while retaining their core.
3. And, of course, all the Yuri harem shenanigans! Like my other old one, I hope this will tickle anyone looking forward to it.
4. Schedule every Saturday, but on Wednesday, I might update if I have sufficient reserved chapters.
With that, please join me to enjoy this epic romance with our favourite MC, Reimu Hakurei!
A Strange New World
Reimu Hakurei stirred awake, blinking against the dim light filtering through unfamiliar curtains. The soft rustling of bed sheets, yet a calming environment, was in a way that didn't quite match her preferred silence.
Still half awake, Reimu rubbed her eyes and glanced around the room.
This wasn't the shrine.
The room felt too clean, too modern.
A sleek wooden desk sat by the window with books and accessories—a tall cupboard with a full-length mirror on the sliding door in another corner.
Her feet brushed against a fluffy carpet when she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
Frowning, Reimu slowly stood up and made her way toward the door, the sensation of being somewhere foreign gnawing at the back of her mind.
Reimu opened the door and stepped into the hallway, only to find herself staring at a brightly lit, modern living room. There was a flat-screen TV and dinner table present, seemingly taken from a second-hand shop. None of this felt right, but her curiosity rose, and her bare feet padded across the polished floor as she peeked into the room's corners.
"Reimu!" A voice called out from the kitchen, breaking the eerie stillness. "How many times do I have to call you? Breakfast is ready!"
Reimu's heart skipped a beat.
That voice...
it was unmistakable, but that person should no longer be around.
Reimu cautiously approached the kitchen, the familiar scent of buttered bread and hot chocolate drifting into the air. Her feet hesitated at the threshold before she peeked inside.
Standing at the stove with an apron tied around her waist was her mother, Minako Hakurei. Her hair was tied up, and her face was filled with casual exasperation as she prepared breakfast, just like Reimu remembered from childhood.
"Are you going just to stand there? I've been calling you for a while." Minako's tone was stern, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. "Come, sit down."
Reimu swallowed her questions, unsure of what to say. She shuffled over to the table and sat down, deciding to go along with the flow for now. Maybe it was a dream. Perhaps it was something else entirely. But for once, she felt no desire to investigate it too deeply. It takes too much effort for how much energy her thinking takes to do.
This is just a pleasant dream. I probably just miss my mother and want to meet her again.
The warm breakfast was placed before her on the table.
The teenage girl stared at it briefly before quietly eating while her mother muttered something about how she should have responded sooner. Just like a typical mother would.
After breakfast, Reimu returned to the bedroom and sat on the soft bed.
This situation was bizarre, but she had no energy to piece it together. Once more, it felt like too much effort that disconnected from her lazy and carefree reality.
So she lay back down, sinking into the plush mattress and closed her eyes. She reminded herself of the reality.
This is just a dream. Just my subconscious is missing her or something… The girl reminded herself once more.
Reimu's thoughts slowly went to an empty state as she drifted off to sleep…
"Reimu! You're going to be late for school!"
Minako's voice cut through the haze of sleep again, loud enough through the door. "What are you doing in the past thirty minutes? Have you done changing yet?"
Minako slammed the door open and froze momentarily. She saw that her daughter was still lying on her bed, acting as if nothing was going on.
Reimu opened her eyes, confused. "School? What are you talking about?"
Without saying anything, the woman went to the cupboard and took out a neatly pressed red top and skirt while shooting her daughter a familiar look of frustration. "Stop being lazy. Get dressed. Or else you will be late."
Reimu took the uniform with both hands, staring at the unfamiliar clothes in her hands as Minako left the room to allow her daughter to dress. Some of her wanted to argue and ask what was happening, but the energy wasn't there. With a sigh, she resigned herself to the flow of this strange new world.
As Reimu reluctantly began changing into the uniform, her mother's voice came again, muffled behind the bedroom door. "Hurry up, or you'll not make it on time!"
Reimu's thoughts wandered as she dressed.
Did anyone else know about this? Could someone from her world be aware of this strange place? She wonder what happened to all her friends.
Kasen or Yukari might know about it. Or perhaps that magician could help…
The idea gnawed at her, but she focused on the task for now.
Reimu fastened the last button on the uniform, adjusted her white collar, ensured she looked presentable in the body-length mirror from her cupboard door and glanced around the room.
At least I still have my shrine maiden uniform for school.
With a reluctant breath, she opened the door and stepped out, ready to face whatever awaited her.
Reimu walked toward the school gates, her pace slow and steady as her mind raced to process everything that had happened.
Fortunately, she managed to ask Minako how to get to school before leaving. Despite the surreal situation, her mother had casually informed her that it was just a fifteen-minute walk away.
Minutes ticked by as she mindlessly walked, and a large building approached her peripherals, taking the attention of her mind.
It was an ordinary modern high school.
Its large brick building stood tall, with neatly lined windows reflecting the morning sun. Surrounding it were well-kept lawns and a few towering trees offering shade to groups of students milling about, laughing, chatting, and occasionally glancing at their phones. A tall, sleek metal fence ran around the perimeter, giving the school a sense of structure and security.
The air buzzed with casual conversations and occasional bursts of laughter. Students dressed in neat uniforms carried backpacks slung over their shoulders. Some gathered in small clusters, while others hurried toward the entrance, as most of them were near the cutoff time for being late, just like her. A few bikes were propped up against racks near the entrance, their colourful frames and helmets adding to the picture of a perfectly normal school morning.
To Reimu, it all felt both familiar and unfamiliar.
She had seen images of modern schools before, on rare occasions when the outside world bled into Gensokyo, but standing here in the middle of one felt strange. The atmosphere was so... mundane. There was no air of mystery, no looming threat of youkai, and no lingering sense of magic. The people around her were utterly ordinary, their lives seemingly simple and carefree. It seemed excellent to get and spread knowledge for free, yet it also felt like everyone had to follow a specific order to go up in society.
As Reimu took another step toward the gates, she couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place, like a puzzle piece from an entirely different set.
Is this really where I'm supposed to be? The thought echoed in her mind.
She sighed softly, forcing herself to continue.
I'm overthinking again, for the countless times she had remarked about it since she arrived in this modern world.
As she took a hesitant step inside, Reimu felt a sudden pat on her back, jolting her from her thoughts. She turned sharply to see a certain Tenshi Hinanawi standing there, wearing her usual sky-blue dress, white blouse, and celestial peaches in her hair.
"Reimu! What gives? You're late," Tenshi remarked with a teasing grin, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You're always the one who gets here early. What happened?"
Reimu's eyes narrowed slightly, her guard going up. She hadn't expected to see Tenshi here, let alone act as if they were close friends. Previously, their relationship had always been tense, at best. Yet, this girl in front of her behaved casually towards herself, as if they'd been companions for years.
Reimu kept her expression neutral, trying to hide her confusion. "I... overslept, I guess," she replied, her voice carefully guarded.
Tenshi, oblivious to Reimu's hesitation, laughed and waved dismissively. "Well, lucky for you, we're only barely late. Let's get going, or we'll have to deal with detention! And you will not ruin it for me on the first day of a new term!"
With her usual air of privilege and slight arrogance, Tenshi led the way, striding confidently through the crowds of students.
Distracted by the strangeness of the encounter, Reimu followed behind her in silence. She wasn't sure what to make of Tenshi's behaviour or this odd world, so she went along with the supposedly 'close' friend.
The walk to the classroom passed in a blur.
Reimu's eyes scanned her surroundings as she followed Tenshi, taking in the smooth tile floors, the lockers lining the walls, and the occasional posters announcing school events. It was a mundane, everyday scene, but to the shrine maiden, it felt like she had entered an entirely fascinating new world.
By the time they arrived at the classroom, students were still settling down and chatting loudly with their friends. The desks were arranged in neat pairs, so each student had a partner.
A large whiteboard gleamed at the front of the room, a far cry from anything Reimu had ever seen in her old life. She blinked, momentarily distracted by the sheer contrast of it all: the bustling environment, the technology, the sense of normality that filled the air.
As the shrine maiden stood near the back of the classroom, waiting for her newfound friend to find her seat, snippets of conversation drifted to her ears.
"I heard she's coming back today. Can you believe it? She's finally done with her shoots," one girl said excitedly, leaning over her desk to whisper to her friend.
"Yeah, my cousin said her latest video hit number one last week. Can you imagine having someone like that in your class?" the other replied, eyes wide with admiration.
Reimu's attention was piqued, but she kept her face neutral as her gaze scanned the room.
"Do you think she's changed? I mean, being gone for the whole first term must've been she is getting busier," one boy remarked, flipping through his smartphone. "I bet she's even more famous now."
"She probably won't have time for normal people like us," his friend muttered half-jokingly.
"Yeah, for sure. We are probably just mere peasants to her."
Reimu's brow furrowed slightly. It was clear from the whispers that whoever they were talking about wasn't just any student. A celebrity, it seemed, someone who hadn't been around during the first term but was returning now. She only felt a bit curious. The idea of sharing a classroom with someone so well-known was strange to her, another reminder of how different this world was from her original Gensokyo.
"There they are."
Tenshi had already picked a seat at the back, and Reimu, still processing the oddness of everything, followed her in silence.
"Come on, we're sitting in the back," Tenshi called, snapping Reimu out of her thoughts. She strode confidently toward the last row of tables in the middle column, waving Reimu without a second thought.
Reimu followed the celestial's lead, but she hesitated when they reached the desks. Tenshi plopped down at one of the paired desks without missing a beat, but the red shrine maiden stood there, uncertain, her eyes flicking between the other students and the seat next to Tenshi.
After a short, awkward silence, Tenshi glanced up, an eyebrow raised in confusion. "Hey, are you going to sit down or what? Unless you don't like the back, say something about it."
Reimu stared at the chair briefly before reluctantly sitting beside the celestial. She kept her distance, sitting stiffly, her mind buzzing with unease.
Why was Tenshi acting so friendly? Sure, she still had that 'privileged' attitude that was ongoing for a bit, but this entire situation felt wrong. Yet everyone around them was acting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
For now, though, she could only go along with it. The answers would have to wait.
As Reimu settled into her seat, her gaze wandered around the classroom. The modern desks, the sleek whiteboard at the front, the buzzing chatter of her classmates. It was all so different from the quiet life at the shrine. Yet, in its way, it was almost... peaceful.
That is, until Tenshi spoke up, interrupting her thoughts.
"Hey, Reimu, check this out!" Tenshi leaned over with a grin, flashing her phone screen. "I found this amazing new gacha game last night. You wouldn't believe the drop rates I'm getting!"
As Tenshi leaned over with a grin, showing off her phone, Reimu's eyes widened slightly in surprise. The device in Tenshi's hand was sleek and glowing, displaying bright, colourful images that moved with every swipe.
Reimu wasn't used to modern technology like this. It did come into Gensokyo once in a while, and she did get to experience it a bit. However, phones were still something she'd only seen in passing during brief encounters with the outside world, and the concept of a "gacha game" was completely foreign to her.
Reimu felt genuinely intrigued for a moment, her gaze flickering over the screen as the celestial navigated through menus filled with animated characters and flashing lights.
Tenshi, oblivious to Reimu's amazement, droned on proudly. "I've been getting all the best pulls, you know? Got three five-stars and two six-stars in a row yesterday. My luck's insane!"
Reimu gave a non-committal hum, her attention barely on the conversation. While the device fascinated her, she couldn't fully engage with Tenshi's bragging. To Tenshi, however, Reimu's quiet response only seemed like disinterest.
A few nearby students overheard Tenshi's remarks, and their heads turned in surprise. "Wait, did she just say she got three five-stars and two six-stars?" one boy whispered to his friend, eyes wide in disbelief.
"That's, like, impossible! I've been grinding that game for months, and I barely get one five-star, let alone six-star," his friend muttered, shaking his head. "I bet she spent a fortune on it."
"She is from the Hinanawi clan," another girl nearby said, not bothering to lower her voice. "They're loaded. She's probably dropping a ton of money on gacha pulls. Of course, she's lucky."
Tenshi, catching the remark but pretending not to notice the other students, turned back to Reimu with a smug grin. She waved her hand dismissively as if the other students' whispers didn't exist.
"Luck? Nah, I don't need to spend that much. It's all about skill and timing, you know?" she said, her tone was self-assured, dripping with confidence as she only conversed with Reimu.
"But even if I did spend a little," Tenshi added casually, "it's not like it matters. What's the point of being from the Hinanawi clan if you can't have some fun, right?"
She flashed Reimu a wide, almost teasing smile, clearly enjoying the chance to boast.
Reimu barely acknowledged the conversation, still distracted by the strange device in Tenshi's hands and the bizarre situation she found herself in. While she didn't get what the big deal was, but she could tell that Tenshi was in the right on how she wanted to spend all her money.
The idle chatter was interrupted when the classroom door swung open, and the teacher, Miss Lee, strode in. She was a tall woman with sharp eyes and a presence that immediately quieted the room.
"Alright, everyone, settle down," Miss Lee called out, clapping her hands to draw the class's attention. "Before we begin today, I have an announcement."
The students quickly turned their attention to the front, the earlier buzz of conversation fading as the teacher continued. Reimu straightened in her seat, momentarily distracted from her thoughts.
"We have a student joining us today who couldn't attend the first term due to some personal matters," Miss Lee explained, glancing at the door. "I'm sure many of you already know her."
A few students started whispering excitedly, exchanging glances, while Reimu barely paid attention. Tenshi, however, leaned back in her chair with a smug expression.
"Oh great, here we go," Tenshi muttered under her breath, loud enough for Reimu to hear. "Whoever this celebrity is, I bet she can't even come close to beating me in my favourite games. And as for beauty? Not a chance."
The celestial tossed her blue hair with exaggerated confidence, smirking.
The door opened, and the new student entered, immediately capturing the room's attention. A tall girl with long, sleek hair and the poise of someone used to the spotlight, she walked with a practised grace that drew whispers from nearly everyone. The students began murmuring about her, their excitement palpable.
"Wow, it's her!" one of the students whispered excitedly. "I can't believe she's finally back. She's been on so many magazine covers!"
"I heard she's not just a model—she's also an actress and a singer. Multi-talented for sure," another added in awe.
"Well, whatever," Tenshi continued, waving her phone dismissively. "Forget the games. It's not like some famous idol can top me in looks either." She leaned back in her chair, flipping her hair dramatically again.
"Seriously, who cares if she's been on magazine covers? There's no way she's as beautiful as I am." She shot Reimu a smug look, clearly expecting agreement.
Reimu blinked, momentarily pulled from her thoughts. "Uh-huh," she murmured, nodding to satisfy Tenshi, though her mind was only half engaged.
"I mean, just look at me. Perfect hair, perfect skin, none of those celebrities could compete with this. They can have all the fame they want, but I've got the real deal right here."
Reimu nodded absentmindedly, her attention slipping as she stared blankly at the desk. But then, the new student's voice broke through the noise of the class.
"Sorry for being late. Hello, everyone!" a young female voice said with a smooth, confident tone that carried across the room.
Reimu's breath hitched.
That voice was unmistakable.
Slowly, her eyes lifted to the front of the room, finally focusing on the new student for the first time.
I recognise that voice…
Standing at the front of the class, with the same regal air that could never be mistaken, was Remilia Scarlet.
Her appearance was precisely as Reimu remembered from the OG Gensokyo: the elegant red dress trimmed with black, the white frilled bonnet sitting perfectly atop her short, light-blue hair, and her scarlet-red eyes that glimmered with both charm and something far more ancient. It was as if she had stepped straight out of Gensokyo and into this modern world without a hint of change.
Remilia gave the class a small, polite smile that instantly commanded attention. Her voice was steady and composed, but it carried an effortless charisma as she introduced herself.
"My name is Remilia Scarlet. You can just call me Remilia if you would like." she began. "I couldn't join you all for the first term due to some personal matters, but I'm looking forward to getting along with everyone here."
The class immediately erupted into hushed whispers and excited murmurs.
"Is that really her? The model?"
"She's even prettier in person…"
"I can't believe she's in our class!"
The energy in the room shifted, and even though Remilia had finished her introduction, the attention on her only grew. Her polite demeanour and the natural grace with which she spoke left a strong impression on everyone, except, perhaps, Tenshi, who leaned over to Reimu and whispered, "Hmm… I still don't see what the big deal is."
Before Reimu could respond, Miss Lee clapped her hands together, trying to calm the rising noise in the classroom.
"Alright, everyone, settle down. Remilia, thank you for the introduction. I'm sure you'll all get along just..."
"Remi!"
Reimu took a while to register what she had just done.
Her voice rang louder than she had intended, the shock of seeing someone new from Gensokyo here finally catching up with her. She stood up abruptly, her palms flat on the desk as her shout echoed in the now-silent room. All eyes snapped to her, students staring in confusion while Miss Lee froze mid-sentence.
Remilia's scarlet eyes flicked toward Reimu, her expression calm yet intrigued by the outburst. The classroom fell into stunned silence, the tension thick in the air as everyone waited.
The shrine maiden realised her mistake, trying to figure out how to proceed.
What am hell am I doing?
A certain shrine maiden found herself at her desk, her head down in embarrassment from the earlier scene. The steady hum of conversation filled the classroom as students chatted with friends or dug into their lunches.
Reimu, however, was far too distracted to eat. The image of Remilia standing there, looking perfectly composed, as if they hadn't been friends, kept replaying in her mind.
Tenshi, noticing her behaviour, nudged her with an elbow and gave her a curious look. "Hey, what's wrong with you? You've been acting weird all day,"
Tenshi took out her bento box, a neatly decorated blue and white container filled with perfectly arranged food. She opened it with a flourish, revealing an assortment of sushi rolls, grilled vegetables, and delicate fruit slices.
"Look at this," Tenshi bragged, proud of her meal. "My servants made it, of course. Everything's perfect as usual."
She flashed Reimu a smug smile before taking a bite of sushi, savouring the taste.
But Reimu wasn't paying attention. Her mind was far from Tenshi's bento and her endless boasting.
Instead, she glanced over at Remilia, sitting across the room, gracefully chatting with a small group of classmates. Something striking about how Remilia carried herself was that she was more poised and elegant than the original version the girl remembered from Gensokyo.
She looks even prettier and more refined than before.
She had a natural charm, as if she belonged in this world of elegance and modernity.
The more the shrine maiden watched, the more she felt the weight of confusion press down on her.
Why is Remilia here? And why has everything changed so much?
Just as Reimu was lost in thought, she noticed something that sent a jolt through her. Remilia was no longer seated with her classmates; the vampire was walking toward Reimu.
Panic washed over her, and she sat up quickly, her heart racing as Remilia approached.
What should I say? What do I do?
When Remilia reached her, she smiled warmly, her voice as composed as ever. "Reimu Hakurei, right? I heard it from the teacher. You acted like we've met before. You seemed surprised earlier."
Reimu flustered and struggled to find the right words, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "Oh, um, are you referring to when we met Patchouli? When she came out wearing those clothes?"
Remilia blinked, her expression shifting to one of confusion. "Patchouli? What are you talking about?"
Reimu's face flushed with embarrassment as she realised her mistake. This was not Gensokyo, and Remilia wouldn't remember their encounters in the Scarlet Devil Mansion. But the image of Patchouli flashed into her mind, standing in casual modern clothes, fitted shirts, and mini pants that perfectly matched her usual composed yet aloof nature.
"I mean... I just... forgot how she looked outside of her library. You know, she always stays inside, and when she came out, well, she was... different. Voluptuous, even when she's in normal clothes. We talk about it before…" Reimu's voice trailed off, her explanation faltering under Remilia's curious gaze.
Remilia's eyes widened slightly, her controlled, polite expression cracking briefly. Her confusion was evident, and though she tried to maintain her gentle tone, a hint of surprise seeped into her voice.
"How... how do you know about that?"
Reimu immediately regretted her outburst, feeling the weight of Remilia's probing gaze.
Uwahh… Remi's gaze is still as fierce as ever. She's even more now since she got upgraded.
"Ah, it's nothing. Just... forget I said anything," The girl mumbled, hoping to drop the topic before things spiralled further.
But it was too late. Remilia's interest had been piqued.
"Wait. Are you…?"
Just as the tension between them grew thicker, Reimu noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.
A girl with long, dark pink hair strolled up to Remilia, her posture confident and her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She wore a slightly gothic outfit with dark lace accents and subtle patterns that gave her a mysterious edge. Her appearance was familiar, but something was off. This girl looked slightly older, more mature, than the figure Reimu remembered. She had an unmistakable air about her, one that reminded Reimu of someone from Gensokyo.
Reimu couldn't place the name, but the resemblance was too strong to ignore.
The girl, however, didn't seem to notice the shrine maiden's scrutiny.
Instead, she joined the growing group of students around Remilia, excitedly chattering about the new celebrity in their midst.
"Hi! You must be Remilia, right?" the girl asked, her voice excitedly. "I've heard so much about you!" The gothic girl smiled warmly, introducing herself to the vampire.
Her new acquaintance brought Remilia's attention back.
"You haven't been to the canteen yet, right?" The girl asked with a smile. "We can bring you along."
With that, Remilia gave Reimu a final glance, something between curiosity and intrigue, before leaving the classroom. The group followed her, their chatter growing distant as they exited the hallway.
However, Reimu noticed the gothic girl, who seemed oddly familiar, turning her head just before they left. Her gaze lingered on Reimu, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly in suspicion. It was brief but unnerving as if she had picked up on something from Reimu's earlier outburst.
Reimu's stomach twisted uneasily.
Remi doesn't know who I am.
She had been swept up in the shock of seeing Remilia in this strange, everyday world. The Remilia she knew from Gensokyo had always commanded attention, and this version was no different. But blurting out their past encounters in the library, especially something as specific as Patchouli's appearance, was careless of her.
But there was one thing she could confirm now.
This isn't Gensokyo anymore. At least the one I am familiar with.
Tenshi, who had been unusually quiet since the earlier scene, observed Reimu from her seat. Her usual confident, privileged demeanour, previously focused on her bento box, was replaced by something subtler. Her eyes showed a flicker of suspicion toward Remilia and Reimu's strange behaviour. But she said nothing, simply watching her friend with mild curiosity and confusion. Whatever thoughts Tenshi had, she kept them to herself.
Reimu, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy as she watched Remilia leave the room surrounded by new friends, seamlessly fitting into this world.
It was so different from the isolated, aristocratic vampire she once knew who would carefully pick who she communicated with.
So, what does this mean for me? Reimu wondered.
Reimu was now back home, sitting in her bedroom.
She had an old, slightly battered laptop in front of her, something she and her mother shared for simple tasks.
The dull hum of the machine filled the quiet room as the girl clicked through various tabs, trying to find anything on alternate worlds. She wasn't exactly sure what she was looking for, some sort of explanation for why people like Remilia or the gothic girl from school seemed to exist here in this reality. She thought vaguely that maybe they were on the internet, though she had no real starting point.
Her experience with computers wasn't exactly extensive, but she knew enough to navigate basic searches.
She owed that much to a certain man, half youkai, half human, who had patiently shown her the ropes of using a PC long ago.
She recalled how he would often lecture her on modern technology, always fascinated by the gadgets and devices trickling in from the outside world. Thanks to him, she could at least manage the basics even though it was all uninteresting to her, being in Gensokyo, which does not require such technology.
However, her searches yielded little. Everything felt overwhelming, and she realised she wasn't even sure what terms to use.
Alternate worlds? Parallel dimensions? This doesn't even make sense.
Reimu sighed, closing the laptop after a few minutes of aimless browsing.
Realising it was close to dinner, Reimu made her way to the kitchen. The sleek, modern appliances in her home were still foreign to her, and she stared at the stove for a long moment, unsure of how to use it properly. She had never used this method before, as most youkai and humans still use the traditional cooking method. She assumes her current version of her mother had always handled things like this for the past Reimu.
Deciding it was too much trouble, Reimu opted to head out for the evening. She slipped into a casual white shirt and red shorts, the simple outfit a teenage girl believes appropriate for a quiet stroll outside.
Exploring the modern world would clear her mind, and who knows, she might stumble upon something familiar in these streets.
Checking again that she didn't look anything out of place, the shrine maiden left the house, stepping into the cool evening air.
The city lights twinkled in the distance, and for a moment, Reimu felt the vastness of the world around her.
It was so different from the small, magical realm she was used to. But here she was, navigating a life she still didn't fully understand.
As Reimu walked along the pavement, she marvelled at the world around her.
The town around them was quiet, an average town, less busy than a bustling city, with only a few vehicles on the road and fewer pedestrians. The various vehicles passing by, the neatly arranged modern houses, and the road lamps that conveniently lit up the streets at night all felt so surreal. The soft hum of traffic, the occasional distant chatter, and the glow of streetlights created a peaceful atmosphere.
Eventually, Reimu came across a convenience store, its bright neon signs and glass windows displaying shelves lined with products. She stopped in her tracks, staring at the building in disbelief.
The girl had heard about stores like this, places where various organisations would transport items from all over the world and gather them in one spot for people to buy, but seeing one in person was strange. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to step inside.
The cool air of the store hit her as she entered, and her eyes scanned the rows of brightly packaged snacks, drinks, and other everyday items. It was almost overwhelming how much was packed into such a small space.
As she walked through the aisles, something caught her attention: a box of Pocky. The thin, chocolate-covered sticks seemed to call out to her, their simple design standing out among the more colourful products. Without thinking twice, Reimu picked up three boxes.
She fumbled with the money when she reached the cashier, the small plastic notes and metal coins still feeling unfamiliar in her hands. Fortunately, she recognised the Japanese yen back at home and took some with her before leaving. The cashier gave her a polite nod as she handed over the money, but Reimu could feel her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she struggled to count it correctly.
After paying, she left the store, holding the boxes of Pocky in one hand while she absentmindedly tore open the packaging of one with the other. She wandered along the side pavement, munching on the sweet, crunchy snack. Her thoughts drifted back to the strange reality, and she wondered what the difference was between this version and her original version.
Is there still magic here, or has it all been lost? Are these people, the ones I knew, being carried over into this modern world but have no memories of the previous world?
Then another realisation struck: Is this even Gensokyo? What if it's…
Beeeep!
The blaring sound of a loud horn behind her suddenly shattered the quiet of the evening.
Reimu spun around just in time to see Remilia floating just above the road, her arms flailing as if someone had pushed her off the pavement. Her elegant figure, so out of place in the modern town, was suspended diagonally in midair, and before Reimu could react, a van came barreling toward her.
Time seemed to slow as the van hit Remilia with a sickening thud, her body thrown against the asphalt. The vehicle screeched to a stop, and for a moment, everything was deathly silent. Then, blood began to pool around Remilia's head, dark and unnervingly vivid against the pavement.
A few bystanders noticed the accident, their shocked murmurs filling the air as one of them quickly pulled out their phone and called for an ambulance, dialling 995. But Reimu couldn't move. She simply stood there, covering her mouth in horror, unable to process what had just happened.
Her mind raced, but her body was frozen in place, paralysed by the sight of Remilia's motionless form lying in the street.
The lack of noise made the scene even more surreal, as though the world had paused for a moment to witness this tragedy. Reimu's heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts a chaotic blur of confusion and fear.
Reimu's heart raced as she stood frozen, staring at the gruesome sight of Remilia's limp body in the street. Blood pooled beneath her head, the once composed and regal figure now motionless and broken.
Various unwanted thoughts swirled chaotically in Reimu's mind, yet her body refused to move. She felt an overwhelming sense of nausea rise within her, her stomach churning violently.
I think I'm going to be sick.
But before she could fully process the horror, something strange gripped her. Her body locked up, every muscle rigid as if frozen in place. Reimu's breath hitched in her throat as the world around her seemed to blur. Time itself appeared to stop, and with the sound of the distant traffic, the whispers of bystanders, and even the blaring horn from the van, everything went silent.
The world became eerily still.
As Reimu struggled to move, she noticed her surroundings begin to shift.
The colours of the town around her; the buildings, the road, the blood—were inverted, turning into visual negatives. The sky was a deep, unsettling black, while the streets and structures became washed-out shades of white and grey. It was as if reality itself was unravelling before her eyes.
Suddenly, without warning, the inverted world disappeared alongside the lone red-white girl.